Electric storage boilers (termos electricos) supplied, fitted and serviced across the Costa del Sol. Equation, Ariston, Bosch and Cointra. Three-year parts and labour warranty.
Storage boilers50 to 200 litresApartments and villasThree-year warranty
An electric storage boiler (termo electrico in Spanish) is the default hot water system for any Costa del Sol property without a piped gas supply. The unit holds 50 to 200 litres of pre-heated water in an insulated steel tank, with a thermostat-controlled element keeping the temperature at the set point. For apartments, smaller flats and rental properties where a gas appliance is not practical, the electric boiler is the simplest install and the easiest to service. We supply, fit and service electric boilers across the Costa del Sol from Nerja to Gibraltar.
When an electric boiler is the right pick
Three property types take an electric boiler almost automatically. First, apartments without piped gas: most coastal blocks built since 2000 ran electric-only as the cheaper utility connection, and an electric boiler is the only sensible water-heater choice. Second, smaller flats with one bathroom and modest hot-water demand, where the cost of a gas install plus the bottle set is hard to justify. Third, holiday rentals where the owner wants the simplest possible system for guests. Larger villas with two-plus bathrooms and high simultaneous demand usually do better on a gas water heater or a heat-pump tank, both of which run cheaper per litre.
Apartments without piped gas
Smaller flats with one bathroom
Holiday rentals where simple beats efficient
Backup tank for a solar hot water system
Sizing the tank to the household
Tank capacity matters more than headline kilowatt rating. A one-bed flat with a single bathroom manages on a 50 to 80 litre tank. A two-bed flat with one bathroom runs comfortably on 80 to 100 litres. A three-bed flat or small townhouse with two bathrooms wants 150 litres minimum, with 200 litres if two showers run together at peak times. The recovery rate (how fast the tank reheats after a draw-down) varies between 18 and 22 minutes per 50 litres at standard 1.5 kW element rating. Undersized tanks run cold mid-shower. Oversized tanks waste standby losses through the year.
Hard water, limescale and tank life
Mains water along the coast is hard. Calcium and magnesium scale builds up on the heating element and inside the tank, dropping efficiency by ten to fifteen percent within five years if no maintenance is done. Most failed electric boilers we replace died from limescale, not from age. The fix is two-fold: a sacrificial anode check every two to three years, and a descale of the heating element after five years in service. A water softener at the mains is the longer-term fix and pays for itself across the dishwasher, washing machine, shower screens and water heater. We pull the anode and inspect on every annual service for owners on a maintenance contract.
Electrical circuit and certification
Electric boilers need a properly rated circuit (16A for tanks under 100 litres, 20A for 100 to 200 litres) with an RCD on the consumer unit. Spanish wiring norms require the circuit to be certified by a registered electrician with a boletin, which is the paperwork the property owner needs for insurance and resale. Where the existing supply is undersized or has no RCD, we run a new dedicated circuit. Modern boilers also need a thermostatic mixing valve at the outlet to comply with anti-scald rules where required by the install location.
How the work runs
From first call to commissioned system
Step 1
Site survey
An engineer visits the property to check the existing tank, the supply, the electrical circuit and confirm the right tank size and brand. Survey appointments are free.
Step 2
Recommendation and quote
We send a written quote covering the tank, the new circuit where needed, the boletin fee, all materials and the labour figure. No deposit until you accept it.
Step 3
Replacement install
Most boiler swaps run as a same-day job. Larger tanks or new circuits take an extra half day. We isolate, drain the old tank, fit the new unit on a wall bracket or floor stand, run new isolation valves and an expansion vessel where required, and remove the old unit on the day.
Step 4
Commissioning and warranty
We commission the unit, set the thermostat, run the RCD trip test, register the boletin where applicable and walk through the controls. Three-year parts and labour warranty starts that day.
Why EnviroCare
Local experience that matters on the job
Trading since 1996
Close to thirty years installing and servicing electric boilers on the Costa del Sol for British and European homeowners across the coast.
Hard-water experience
We pick brands and sizes that hold up under hard local water, with anode-check and descale routines built into the maintenance contract.
Registered electrician for the boletin
Electric boiler circuits need a boletin from a registered electrician under Spanish wiring norms. Our team handles the paperwork as part of the install.
Three-year parts and labour
Every new install carries a three-year EnviroCare warranty on parts and labour, on top of the manufacturer warranty on the boiler.
Brands we install
Brands matched to the job
Equation
Stocked at Leroy Merlin, Equation electric boilers are the budget default for apartments and rentals. Decent reliability for the price, easy parts. The pick when keeping it simple matters more than the badge.
Ariston
Italian brand with a long track record on the coast. Quiet, holds heat well, twelve to fifteen year lifespan with sensible servicing. A step up for owner-occupied homes.
Bosch
Top-end electric boilers with sensible warranty terms. Picked when the supply is electric only and the household runs the hot water hard.
Cointra
Spanish manufacturer with strong domestic following. Parts available everywhere on the coast. A solid serviceable pick at fair price.
How long does an electric boiler last on the Costa del Sol?
Eight to twelve years on a budget unit, twelve to fifteen on a quality brand with annual servicing and the right water treatment. Hard-water scale is what kills most boilers before their time. A sacrificial anode check every two to three years and a descale at year five extend the working life noticeably.
How much does an electric boiler cost to run in Spain?
A 100-litre tank heated daily costs roughly 15 to 25 euro per month at 2026 PVPC tariffs, depending on usage. Heating overnight on a discriminated tariff drops the cost by about a third. Comparable to a gas water heater for low-to-medium demand households; a heat-pump tank cuts the cost to roughly a third.
Can I replace my old electric boiler myself?
It is not a legal install in Spain without a registered electrician on the circuit work and a boletin certifying the install. The unit itself is straightforward to fit, but the certification and the warranty position make a self-fit risky. Most insurance policies will not cover a water-damage claim from an uncertified install.
What size tank do I need?
Roughly 50 to 80 litres for a one-bed flat, 80 to 100 for a two-bed, 150 for a three-bed with two bathrooms, 200 for larger or higher-demand homes. We size on the survey based on the actual household and how often two outlets run together at peak times.
Can I run the boiler on a discriminated electricity tariff?
Yes. PVPC tariffs in Spain are time-of-use as standard, with cheaper rates overnight and at weekends. Setting the boiler to heat between 0:00 and 8:00 catches the cheapest electricity and drops the running cost by roughly a third compared to heating during peak hours. We set the timer at handover.
How do I book a replacement?
Send a WhatsApp to +34 670 409 759 with a photo of the existing tank and the make and model. We will recommend a like-for-like replacement or an upgrade and book a same-week swap. Survey appointments are free where the install is more complex.
Need help with electric boilers?
Tell us what you need and where the property is, and EnviroCare will advise on the right next step.
